Anna Maria & Maestro Vivaldi, written by Jan L. Coates and illustrated by Francois Thisdale. Red Deer Press, 2022. $19.95 ages 8 and up

"Anna Maria stood up, hugging her violin. 
"My violin is my friend. When I am sad, 
it plays sad music. When I feel happy, 
it plays happy music .... " She 
hesitated. "And I can see the music."
    "The notes on the page?" the 
Maestro asked. 
      She shook her head. "Music paints 
beautiful colours for me, and shapes." 

An author's note that opens this book tells readers that Anna Maria is a real girl whose teacher was Antonio Vivaldi. The story, though based on some facts, is an imagined tale of what might have happened while he was working with orphans at Anna Maria's school. Following that, synesthesia is described and musicians Billy Joel and Duke Ellington are mentioned as well-known synesthetes. 

Anna Maria loves her violin more than anything else. Vivaldi wonders why she doesn't join the other children at play. She explains that her violin is her friend and its music is her solace. She tells him that the others tease her when she tries to make clear that she sees the music. Vivaldi tells her there will be no teasing when she is a member of the Figlie del Coro. 

The other girls are displeased at her joining them. She pays all attention to the Maestro. He schools her in focusing on her music, and the need for practice. Instead of reading the music's notes, he suggests that she show them the pictures she is seeing in the music she plays. The other students are astounded. Vivaldi takes her to a see the work of artist Marco Ricci. There, they see his paintings of the Four Seasons., 

As Vivaldi sets his four written sonnets to music, he wants Anna Maria to be the soloist! She is brilliant, just as he knew she would be. 

Francois Thisdale creates his art 'from a unique blend of drawing, photography and richly textured acrylic painting combined with digital art'. The Venice setting adds context to this story of music and friendship.                                                                                        

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

 

May the new year bring good health and unntold happiness, plenty of time to read great books, and many blessings to your life and the lives of your loved ones! 

Nana, Nenek, and Nina, written and illustrated by Liza Ferneyhough. Dial Books for Young Readers, Penguin Random House. 2022. $ 23.99 ages 5 and up

 

"At Nana's, 
it's usually damp and chilly.
Nina wriggles into some woolly thing
and gets ready to go out. 

At Nenek's, 
they start their day outside
before the sun gets too high in the sky. 
Nina just has to slip on her selipar."

Nina has two grandmothers. They live in two different countries on opposite sides of the world. Nina does not live in either of those countries. If she wants to visit with them where they live, she must fly from her home in the United States to see Nana in a damp and chilly village in Britain, or to see Nenek in hot and steamy Malaysia. I love the design used to help young readers see the stark differences between one place and another. Using variety in composition, Nina introduces each grandmother in simple text that clearly defines time spent preparing to be with each one of them. 

The packing cannot be all the same. It does take time and thought. A small something makes the trip to both places every time - a reminder of home. Flights move in opposite directions. Tired is the end result of both trips. Being in a very different environment is evident first thing the next morning. At Nana's, the two need warm clothing to go outside. At Nenek's, the two are sure to get outside early in order to miss the heat of the sun later in the day. 

Work in respective gardens and a healthy breakfast are top of mind as the day begins. Rain sends Nina inside for hot chocolate and games with Nana; heat means iced tea and a different game with gathered cousins at Nenek's house. A visit to the sea works in both places. An afternoon rest for Nina allows time for the grandmothers to get their shopping done. Meals are prepared and enjoyed together. At the end of the day there is time for a cleansing shower. Even bedtime offers different accommodations - a bunk bed, and a bed with mosquito netting. 

The good night hugs, whispered words of love, and gentle gestures are exactly the same! 

This debut picture book is beautifully designed to give readers a close look at the two visits. Filled with warmth and wonderfully detailed images of life with two loving grandmothers, there are plenty of opportunities to stop and ponder what is happening on each shared spread. Be prepared to read it again and then, again. 

I would love to revisit the three at some future time.                                                                                 

a bear, a bee, and a honey tree. Words by Daniel Bernstrom and illustrations by Brandon James Scott. Astra, Penguin Random House. 2022. $24.99 ages 3 and up

 

"a hungry bear 
              a busy bee

   a bear 
and a bee
       in a honey tree"

If you want your little one to learn how truly amazing reading is, this is the kind of book you want to give them. A bee's path on the endpapers leads the reader in to the title page where a surprised bear watches the bee pass over his head. That bear (shown on the introductory page) just woke in his cave to sunshine. Turn the page and a yawning bee is doing the same in a honey tree. The bear, the bee and the honey tree are introduced in those words only. Perfect for those wanting to know what is reading is. 

Every double-page spread is filled with movement and sunshine. Hungry, the bear's keen nose leads him to the honey tree. Eureka! The bee is not nearly as keen. It does its best to deter the bear from getting its paws on the honeycomb. When it doesn't work, the bee's grumbles attract the attention of 'a million fuzzy buzzing bees' and the rest of the story is given over to a game of hide-and-seek!

The text is deceptively simple, matching the action shown in the enticing and always entertaining digital artwork. Words are repetitive and give little ones the power to help with the 'reading' which is exactly what we want when they are beginning on their path to a love of reading. 

The phrasing grows in the most delicious ways adding words like sneaky, fretful, angry, fuzzy to the action. Thirty-five wondrous words and brilliant infused light combined with humor, and excitement - what a collaboration! This is certain to be on a repeat cycle for days to come. 

Where Do Big Creatures Sleep at Night? Written by Steven J. Simmons and Clifford R. Simmons and illustrated by Ruth E. Harper. Charlesbridge, Penguin Random House. 2022. $21.99 ages 4 and up

"Big, tall, and strong, with thick brown hair
and a hump on its back - that's the grizzly bear. 
In the summer it sleeps anywhere it can lie, 
taking lots of naps as the day goes by. 

When winter arrives, into hiding it goes -
to hibernate for many months in a row.
It digs a secret den under the ground - 
so while it sleeps it won't be found."

In this companion book to Where Do Creatures Sleep at Night? (Charlesbridge, 2021), the authors look at size and sleeping habits. In four-line stanzas, the authors consider familiar animals and what they do when young readers are also sleeping. 

Double-page spreads offer a realistic and attractive setting for a variety of animals: silverback gorilla, elephant, kangaroo, grizzly bear, ostrich, giraffe, black rhino, anaconda, hippo, crocodile, and lion. The details are attractive, the perspectives ever-changing and the scenes invite discussion with young listeners.  

Kids interested in animal habits will enjoy the new learning offered at every turn of the page. 

What animal is being described here? 

It can sleep in the mud without a care
or float in a river with its head up for air. 
It slumbers at night with one open eye, 
to keep watch for animals who dare to come by."

I hope you make the right guess. 

Poopy Science: Getting to the Bottom of What Comes Out Your Bottom, written by Edward Kay and illustrated by Mike Shiell. Kids Can Press, 2022. $19.99 ages 8 and up

 

"European badgers live in groups and 
dig rectangular poop pits, letting other 
badgers know that this area is already taken
by strong, well-fed badgers - so scram! 

River otters are experts at smelly 
signals. They flatten the vegetation along
a riverbank, then use it as a giant latrine, 
creating a poop field that can be seen - 
and smelled - by rival otters."

You tell me - did you need to know that? While you may not have, there will be many kids who will want to read this and then be happy to pass along all they have learned. You know who they are. My 6-year-old granddaughter will get a huge chuckle from the title itself. Kids are interested in animals, their own bodies, and the workings of poop.

The team that brought Germy Science and Stinky Science to readers add this third book to their Gross Science Book series. Edward Kay provides this in a short introduction: 

"It's a veritable manual of manure, and a primer on pee. 
Make no mistake: body waste grosses everybody out.
But it's a natural part of life, something that all organisms 
have to do in order to live." 

Does that help? 

The table of contents lists five separate chapters: The Scoop on Poop, The Scoop on Your Poop, What to Do with All That Poop, Species and Feces, and Don't Waste Your Waste! Each chapter contains paragraphs of pertinent information on select topics. Accompanied by extremely funny cartoon-like art that adds context and entertainment, Mr. Kay fills his text with all things poop and pee, including numerous puns and facts that fascinate those kids always wanting to know more. 

Readers will learn about human waste and what it contains, the digestive system, how our poop informs concerning our health itself, and even the way that sanitation systems have developed over time. There is so much more than that to learn as the text moves forward to other gross and enlightening details. Fact boxes are abundant and contain such news as this: 

"The marabou stork's love affair with poop
doesn't end there. It also defecates on its own 
legs to stay cool! Its white feces act like a heat 
shield for its black legs."

EWWWW!

The book is well-researched, sure to intrigue and inform a reader who likes a blending of history and science, and is interested in the gross aspects of poop. It concludes with a glossary, an index, and a list for further reading. 

https://youtu.be/vP97pOepxKE

Moonwalking, written by Zetta Elliott and Lyn Miller-Lachmann. Farrar Straus Giroux, Macmillan. 2022. $22.99 ages 10 and up

"EXTRA CREDIT

even countries
have fathers
so why not
me?

why don't 
we study the 
nation's founding 
mothers?

they're the 
ones who hold
life inside

and make 
the world in 
the womb

plus

mothers are 
the ones 
who stay "

Pie and JJ are boys growing up in the early 1980s. Their stories are shared with honesty in this plucky, powerful verse novel.

Pie's home life is not easy. He and his little sister are in the care of their mother, who suffers with mental illness. Pie has never met his father. His sister Pilar's father Tony is out of the house due to domestic abuse toward their mother. The uncertainty that comes from not being able to count on their mother creates numerous issues for the children. A gifted student and an aspiring graffiti artist, Pie wants to know more about art and is encouraged by his teacher to attend an after-school art program being given at a local museum. 

JJ struggles in school, but finds solace in his music. He spends time learning to play guitar and write punk rock songs. His father is a Polish immigrant who has no work. He, too, is abusive. His treatment of his son makes JJ's life difficult and heartbreaking. 

As luck would have it, the two become friends. Their lives are not simple. Politics and racism are huge issues, felt by so many. Pie knows that his skin color affects how he is seen, and how his love of graffiti as his medium is not readily acceptable. JJ is quiet and one of the only white kids at their school. His father, a union supporter, deals with a different kind of discrimination, as does his sister. As Pie sees life through art, JJ sees it in music. Their friendship is not an easy one, but it grows into something special. An encounter with police shows just how hard it will be to maintain it.  

Two brilliant writers, in alternating voices, create a story of a precarious friendship that will speak to many middle graders. It requires careful thought and attention. The essence of the issues explored are not much different today than they were 40 years ago. Painful, but heartfelt, it will find many fans. Deservedly so! 

My Name is Saajin Singh, written by Kuljinder Kaur Brar and illustrated by Samrath Kaur. Annick Press, 2022. $22.95 ages 4 and up

 

"Saajin knew that was his last 
name. But the first name 
didn't sound right. He didn't
like the sound of that name. 

"Everyone please listen
carefully. Is there a Say-jin
Singh who is here today?"

Saajin (Sah-jin) loves every single thing about his name. He's very proud of how it looks and how it sounds. He's also excited about the many new friends he will meet when school begins. At roll call his his teacher calls for 'Say-jin'. He is surprised and confused. Although embarrassed, he knows she must mean him, and he raises his hand to let his teacher know he is present. 

At recess, his new friend uses the same pronunciation the teacher has. He wonders why it is different than when he is at home. Every day is the same, until his name begins to feel different to him. 

"It didn't taste as sweet
when he ate his jalebi. 

And it didn't sound right
when he whispered it to his dog. 

Sometimes hearing his friends say
Say-jin made Saajin's stomach feel funny."

When he introduces himself to the new neighbors as Say-jin, his parents are confused. Saajin likes his new friend Chris; they play together and enjoy many of the same things. Saajin can't wait to show Chris around their school. It isn't until dinnertime that his parents mention his new name. He explains that he thinks it is the way people say his name when he leaves their house - different than when he is at home. 

His parents help him understand that everybody makes mistakes, and that his teacher can do the same. They talk about his name, and how it loses its meaning when not said properly. What a surprise that is! He uses what he has learned to help him find his voice when roll call is taken the next day. All is well and good. 

It's December 25, 2022!

 

Wishing you many blessings and great joy today! 

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, written by Robert Frost and illustrated by P. J. Lynch. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2022. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow. 

My little horse must think it queer 
To stop without a farmhouse near 

Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year. 

This is a poem that many know. Whether learned in school, or loved because you appreciate Robert Frost's poetry, it captures the reader's senses with its questions about place and ownership. P. J. Lynch opens with front endpapers that are dim and snow-covered. A rider sets off down the street at dusk or later. The soft yellow lighting comes only from house windows and outdoor lights that provide some illumination in the darkness. The back endpapers bring the night to an end as the sun rises. 

Approaching the woods, the young rider thinks she knows who owns them. However, if she is right, he lives in the village. As snow flies all around her, she dismounts and brings her horse to a stop between the woods and the lake. It is a dark night, lit only by the moon. The horse is uneasy, while its rider seems quite content to bask in the quiet of the dark winter night. Soon, they are on their way again with miles yet to go. 

The stunning gouache and watercolor artwork perfectly matches the imagery of the text; its dark solitude and frosty surroundings give readers a sense of the peace to be found there. Several of the spreads are wordless, adding to the mysterious purpose for the rider's journey. The changes in perspective add interest and eventually show the sun peeking over the horizon while the rider has a long way to go before giving in to sleep. 

It's lovely!                                                                                     

Puffin, written by Martin Jenkins and illustrated by Jenni Desmond. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2022. $23.99 ages 5 and up

 

"The new arrivals have a careful look 
around and then set off to check out 
last year's burrow - they have a good 
memory for that sort of thing and know
just where to find it. Often the first 
thing they'll meet is ... 

last year's mate." 

Living on the prairies with no sea in sight, I would be hard-pressed to identify many of the multitude of seabirds that fill the skies close to the sea. I would, however, have no problem at all recognizing a puffin. They are so appealing. Bright orange feet, pudgy bodies and those colored bills! 

Martin Jenkins introduces these wondrous birds as if he is speaking directly to each reader. Using a first-person voice and a chatty style, he offers a clear look at the life cycle of what he calls his 'absolute favorite' seabird. He explains that a birdwatcher will only see them in spring and summer as they spend the winter far from shore. They return a few at a time, until a large flock has collected and sets down at home again. 

He describes two mates greeting each other with a clacking of bills and a stamping of feet, prior to settling back into a burrow they may have used the previous summer. After cleaning it carefully and fixing it up, the two settle in to a quiet life. That only lasts until their one egg comes out of its shell. As soon as that happens, the hard work begins. Keeping the chick warm, dry and fed takes both parents as that baby needs a lot of food to grow. One stays, the other catches the food. They take turns ensurirng the baby gets enough to eat. 

"Puffins normally store about ten fish in their bills at once - 
sometimes as many as a hundred!" 

After six weeks of care, the young one is ready to test its wings, and its independence. It is now on its own! 

Jenni Desmond's artwork is done in ink, watercolor, and acrylic paint. Her energetic images and ever-changing perspectives provide valuable context for the writing and much appeal for young readers. 

Back matter includes further information about puffins, an index, and a list of websites.                                                                                

The Christmas Pig, written by J.K. Rowling and illustrated by JIm Field. Scholastic, 2021. $29.99 ages 9 and up

 

"Jack looked anxiously toward the front of the line
At first, he couldn't see what lay there, but their line
moved quickly and soon he realized that they were 
heading toward a long row of desks at which Loss 
Adjusters sat, among them a mousetrap, a cork-
screw, and a stapler. Beyond the desks were three 
gigantic doors. The first was made of plain wood, 
the kind you'd find on a barn or an outhouse. The 
second was made of shining steel, the sort you'd 
see on a safe or strong room. The last was made of 
shining gold and it was beautifully engraved with 
curling vines and flowers. Many of the Things in 
the lines were pointing at this third door with longing
expressions." 

Again, I'm late for sharing this inventive and captivating story with you ... a year late, I'm afraid. I do know that you can still get a copy for your family. It's a fine tale of magic that seems as if everything that happens in it is quite believable. It made me smile, worry, sigh, and rejoice. 

It's Christmas Eve and Jack is frantic over the loss of his best friend, a toy pig called Dur Pig (DP). Losing DP is the result of a terrible accident. Jack is inconsolable; the adults in his life think that all he needs is a replacement to make everything better. The Christmas Pig is their choice. Jack hates CP. He is nothing like DP who was old, soft, faded and Jack's companion on many, many adventures. No toy can replace him. 

Being Christmas Eve, there is a lot of magic in the air. CP uses that magic to come to life and offer a solution. They will rescue DP from The Land of Lost Things. Jack agrees wholeheartedly to follow CP to this place where things lost are kept until they are remembered or found again. It is some quest they set for themselves, requiring a descent into the magical land where lost things are sorted, into a variety of places depending on their status in the living world. 

As they search, while also avoiding certain capture and death at the hands of the despicable and terrifying Loser, they meet many wonderful characters as they travel from one place to the next, always searching for Dur Pig. Not only real things are lost, but also hope, power, happiness, and optimism. We learn through this dramatic tale what might have happened to them. 

Intrigued readers will tear through the story in hopes that Jack and CP will find DP in time for Jack to bring him home before Christmas Day dawns. Many twists and turns result as they move from one territory to the next. Many will feel on the edge of their seats. Will they find DP in time, and what will happen to CP if they do? Will Santa play a role? Jim Field's wonderful illustrations capture the quest for Jack and CP, along with a host of helpers, as they do their best to bring DP home. 

Telling Stories Wrong, written by Gianni Rodari and illustrated by Beatrice Alemagna. Translated by Antony Shugaar. Enchanted Lion Books, 2022. $23.95 ages 6 and up

 

"Oh, right! And Little Black Riding Hood answered ... "

"It was Little Red Riding Hood! Red! Red! Red!"

"Oh, right! And she answered: I'm going to the 
grocery story to buy some tomato sauce."

"Not in your wildest dreams, Grandpa! 
It's: I'm going to Grandmother's house, 
because she's sick, but I've lost my way."

This is a very appealing read aloud that will have listeners unable to keep from responding to the silliness. A grandfather sits to share a familiar fairy tale with his granddaughter. He starts with a girl named Little Yellow Riding Hood, much to the alarm of his devoted listener. She is quick to correct him, and his immediate and oft-repeated response is appropriate: "Oh, right!"

It will take no time for astute participants in the storytelling to recognize the trajectory of this most enjoyable book. Each new sentence is quite ridiculous, and not in keeping with the familiar tale. The child is quick to correct her grandfather. A potato peel for her grandmother's basket? No, bread! She meets a giraffe in the woods? No, a wolf. 

Anyone who reads with kids will know how impatient they will become with the nonsensical ideas Grandpa is upholding as the story moves forward. It just gets zanier and zanier; the contradictions will be louder, the laughs longer, and the enjoyment beyond measure. When the wolf provides guidance for finding a quarter for bubble gum, the little one runs out of patience. She finally lets her grandfather  know, once and for all, that he is not good at telling stories correctly.  Perhaps he should give her a quarter so she can get her own bubble gum. He happily hands the coin to her, gives her a big hug, and goes back to reading his newspaper. 

The mixed-media illustrations by Beatrice Alemagna are charming, and full of life as the two exchange dialogue throughout the tale told. They exude the warmth of the relationship and engaging humor at every turn, while making the heartfelt connection between the two.

It is great fun from start to finish! I hope to read with my granddaughters during a FaceTime visit in the near future. 
                                                                            

CONCRETE: From the Ground Up, written by Larissa Theule and illustrated by Steve Light. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2022. $24.99 ages 8 and up

 

"In 1757, Smeaton began building a new Eddystone 
lighthouse using granite and concrete. In doing so, 
he reintroduced concrete to the world. Because of 
Smeaton, concrete began to change the landscape 
of planet Earth forever. 

Later, Smeaton's lighthouse had to be moved because the ground under it was no longer stable, but the lighthouse itself still stands, as sturdy as ever."

Concrete? Who knew it could be the subject of an extraordinary book for young readers? I had read about it; and found myself intrigued. Rightfully so, it seems. It is a book that I have read twice, and also pored slowly over the brilliant accompanying illustrations.

A clear description of what concrete is, and is not, sets the tone for what follows. Told chronologically beginning in Turkey around 9600 BCE, the author recounts the story of the composite material we call concrete. The Romans were first to use it as an important building material. It was strong and long-lasting. They cleverly added volcanic ash to an already established mixture to make it much stronger than it had been. 

When the Roman Empire collapsed, the knowledge that had allowed for the building of the Colosseum, the Pantheon and numerous amazing aqueducts was suddenly lost. It would take 1,000 years before a British engineer named John Smeaton showed the world how to build using the strength of concrete. Something that would harden underwater in order to build lighthouses and bridges was in great demand by then. 

Steve Light's ink and watercolor artwork provides a restrained, yet humorous, look that is specific and meaningful to the conversational and accessible text. Word balloons add further information on many of the book's pages. This is superb illustrated nonfiction ... engaging, informative, and clever. There is much to learn here, and in the best way possible. 
                                                                                   

How to Party Like a Snail, written by Naseem Hrab and illustrated by Kelly Collier. Owlkids, 2022. $19.95 ages 4 and up

 

"Lately, Snail 
hasn't been invited 
to many parties. 

Instead, he
spends a lot of 
time waiting. 

And waiting ... 

And waiting ... " 

Snail is convinced he's a party animal. Unlike others, he likes the quiet things about parties: an indoor voice, confetti, whispered wishes, and the very quiet moment before everyone yells SURPRISE! As anyone who attends parties knows, they are not nearly quiet enough for Snail. When it gets loud, Snail finds comfort inside his shell. 

Hidden there, he can enjoy some of the party's fun. His friends wish he would join them. Snail is content. He tries to explain to those friends who don't seem to understand that quiet is very important to him. It makes Snail wonder if he is the only one who feels that way. He does notice that invitations are lacking. He waits patiently. 

When a letter finally does arrive, it is addressed to Stump. Poor Snail! Turns out that Stump is a much-valued guest at all parties. Poor Snail! What's to be done? What if he hosts his own party? 

"First, he invites himself. 
Then he makes a pot of warm milk
and lip-syncs to all of his favorite lullabies." 

Then, he decides it should be even quieter. All alone, it soon worries him that something essential is missing. It's Stump to the rescue with an understanding that parties can be different for each of us. 

Funny, expressive and charming, this book is SHHHure to please the introverts and quieter children  with whom it is shared. Great storytelling accompanied by engaging, humorous artwork makes this a terrific read aloud. 

https://youtu.be/wMF6KL0Utjg

The Legend of the Christmas Witch, written by Dan Murphy and Aubrey Plaza, and illustrated by Julia Iredale. Viking, Penguin Random House. 2021. $24.99 ages 6 and up

 

"Sometimes at night, after the old woman was asleep,
Kristtorn would gaze out the window in the thatched roof 
above her bed and count the stars. Somewhere, she felt 
sure, in some other part of the world, her brother was 
doing the same. And someday, she knew, she would follow the course of those stars and find him."

In this original legend readers meet Kristtorn, twin sister to Kristoffer, also known as Santa Claus. It is a story that has been 'forgotten to time' and has only now come to light for a new generation of readers. We are told there was a time when children knew the Christmas Witch, seeing her in fleeting glimpses if they were patient during the long Yuletide night. She left gifts on the doorstep and vanished without anyone gettting a clear look at her. Through the years, stories were told, songs were written, and they soon became quite scary leaving many children frightened of her evil ways. 

Her story is a sad one. She and her brother were abandoned at birth to be raised by the animals of the forest. Each had special gifts that helped them survive. While playing one day, the two heard voices. Kristoffer, the social one, walked right up to the couple and engaged them in conversation while Kristtorn hung back, shy and scared. The old couple offered food and comfort; Kristoffer was so distracted that they walked away together, leaving his sister hiding in a thicket. As luck would have it, the couple's last name was Kringle. Kristoffer's fate was sealed. Kristtorn remained hidden and protected in the thicket until a witch named Lutzelfrau heard her crying and gave care for a number of years. 

While Kristoff was living a happy life in the north with the Kringles, Kristtorn was living a very different life improving her magical skills under the watchful eye of Lutzelfrau. Losing her temper when a spell did not work was a problem. She never forgot her brother, dreaming always of a reunion at some point in her life. Eventually, she set off to find him. A long and dangerous journey ended at the south pole. When she heard that he spent Christmas Eve traveling the world, she was determined to find him. Their reunion was not what she had hoped. She was chased by those who held a belief that she was evil. 

When the two finally did meet again, Kristoff dismissed her as too different to find a place in his world. As the story ends, Kristtorn makes a vengeful promise concerning a plot to ruin the Christmas holiday.

Excellent storytelling and admirable artwork make this a book to savor and share. It is one more book that I received too late for last year's blog posts. I hope you can find a copy. I also want you to know that The Return of the Christmas Witch made it to book shelves in October. You can look for it now! It's a wonderful Yuletide read. 

If You Were a City, written by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Francesca Sanna. Chronicle Books, Raincoast. 2022. $23.99 ages 4 and up

 

"A place for biking, 
scooting, 
walking? 

With squares 
for dancing, eating, 
flocking?"

What a lovely journey of the imagination for children! Ms. Maclear asks readers to think about cities in world communities; then, try to decide which one they would prefer to be like. Double page spreads provide a short verse that rhymes and a glorious look at two or more different cities and what makes them special. From daylight to darkness, from one side of the world to another, from cold to hot; they are filled with expressive faces and action. The choices are seemingly endless. 

The digital illustrations attract attention with bright colors and ever-changing settings. Perspectives are varied, full of energy, and encourage close observation.  

"Would you care for those 
from far-off places? 

Offer shelter 
in peaceful spaces? 

The full-page spread for this verse shows a gently smiling child wrapping a village in the open arms of a harbor. It is so lovely. Those who people the pages are of varying ages, cultures, and expressions. The cities show similarities and differences, and offer encouragement to think about what kind of community makes the best choice for the reader. 

"Would you have 
great big parks 
for Sunday lazing? 

And quiet roofs 
for starry gazing?"

What kind of community do you want to be?                                                                                       

Granny and Bean, written by Karen Hesse and illustrated by Charlotte Voake. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2022. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Their laughter rose; full of joy, it spilled
'cross sand, through mist, 
as the curlews trilled."

I love grandparent stories! In this calm and winning book, Granny and Bean go walking by the sea on a day that is gray and misty. They play in the surf as the waves wash ashore, rousing shared laughter and much delight. Birds sing, others walk the beach, gulls swoop nearby. They are not ready to head back home. 

The wind wreaks havoc with their hats, and hair. Their cheeks redden in its strong gusts. There is not one complaint; they are happy being where they are. They sing together, greet other seaside wanderers with their dogs, and leap over washed-ashore driftwood before sitting to have a tea in a quiet spot out of the howling wind. 

The day ends with a sand castle, and visits from others who are spending the day as Granny and Bean are. 

"They sorted and kept their best shells and a stone. 
And then, only then, 
did they make their way home." 

Beautifully told in meaningful rhyme, and shown in mixed-media illustrations that fully detail the wonders of this natural world the two share. Don't miss the endpapers. 

Add this to your Grandparents Day collection. It will make a great read for little ones, and is sure to evoke memories of special days spent with their own grandparents. 
                                                                                  

Our Friend Hedgehog: A Place to Call Home, written and illustrated by Lauren Castillo. Alfred A. Knopf, Penguin Random House, 2022. $23.99 ages 4 and up

"Owl often hosted story times, and the friends took turns
cramming into his tiny loft. Today, it was Hedgehog, 
Mutty and Mole's turn. 

Hedgehog grabbed Mutty by the paw and hopped into 
the little red boat Beaver had made them. Quickly and 
carefully, they rowed toward the mainland."

Hedgehog loves the family she has made with Mutty, Owl, Annika Mae, Beaver, Hen and Chicks, and Mole. At the moment, they are busily preparing for winter: snowball fights, tubing, and making snowhogs. What could be better than that? 

Hedgehog has never really thought about a family of any other kind. On her way to hear Owl's new book, she is both surprised and scared to meet someone who looks just like her. That has never happened before! Beaver and Annika Mae are busy building a Friend Fort, with help from all of the others. Learning about the other hedgehog stops Beaver in his tracks and leads to his rafting the others down the river to Hedge Hideaway. 

Once there, Hedgehog comes face to face with someone who looks a lot like her. He introduces himself as Grandhog and offers to show her the place where hedgehogs hibernate for the winter. Hedgehog knows nothing of hibernation. Would she be happier spending a long winter's sleep with others like her? She decides to stay while her friends return home. It doesn't take her long to realize that being with those who feel like family inside is where it really matters; not how one looks on the outside. She and Mutty make their way back to hearth and home. 

This equally wonderful follow-up to Our Friend Hedgehog (2020) is as endearing and engaging as that first story. The characters are a delight, their love for each other is evident at every turn, and their adventures captivate readers. I have high hopes for a third installment.  It's a perfect family read for the upcoming holiday time at home together.  

BAd drawer, written and illustrated by Seth Fishman (And Friends). Penguin Workshop, Penguin Random House. 2022. $24.99 ages 5 and up

 

"I just wish I could draw like 
some of my friends. 

Tillie - who's always doodling in 
journals - is so good at drawing 
amazing enormous skyscrapers
and scenery. She'd create such 
incredible worlds for Bailey."

The audience learns quickly that drawing is not a strong suit for our storyteller. The first few pages have no images; there is only a dejected lament that practice has been plentiful with no real progress.  Anyone taking a careful look can see that trees are okay, as they are made using scribbles.  

While this narrator admits to success at other things, like playing soccer, making cookies, and even being good at math, there is no hope when it comes to art. Despite that fact, the narrator has a story to tell about a mouse, a half-cat half-bird, and their kingdom that needs saving from dragons. In trying to draw the story for readers to see, the scene looks nothing like the imagined one. If only a wish to be like an artistic friend would materialize and change the ability to put what's in the head on the paper. 

Naming Tillie, Jessixa, Jessica, Anna, Travis, and Armand and showcasing their talent only makes things worse. Even little brother Ethan has a talent for drawing. Wait! If asked, would they help create what is so evident in the narrator's head? An exchange could work; homemade cookies for their artistry. 

What a perfect solution! 

Six of the author's artist friends help to create the final double-page spread which brings the narrator's story to glorious life. Isn't that what friends do for each other? Help comes from the best places ...